Vikings stadium moving closer to approval

Posted by Mike Florio on April 25, 2012, 7:40 AM EDT

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A week after the Vikings stadium bill was dead in the water of the 10,000 lakes (I think I’ve used that one before . . . I won’t be taking the time to check because, after all, I am as cool as the other side of the pillow), the effort now has what one lawmaker calls an “air of inevitability.”

That’s what Senator Geoff Michel said Tuesday, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Vikings director of corporate communications Jeff Anderson told PFT by email last night that the bill is now ready for a vote on the House floor, and that it will be presented to the Senate Finance Committee at 9:00 a.m. CT on Wednesday.

Another piece of good news comes from the fact that the Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution supporting the bill on Tuesday. Both the Legislature and the City Council must sign off on a deal that previously was reached by the Vikings, Governor Mark Dayton, and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.

Of course, there’s a third branch of government beyond legislative and executive — and it’s only a matter of time before a Minneapolis taxpayer files a lawsuit claiming that the plan violates the City Charter’s requirement that any investment of more than $10 million in a sports facility be approved by a public vote.

Then again, the lawyer that files such a lawsuit will have to deal with the Vikings’ version of Hulk Hogan.

I want to see it get done and it is looking better. But knowing how ineffective our leadership can be in Minnesota I won’t breath easy until it’s done. The vote on the floors of the house and senate will be close.

Well, unless your Canadian. Then you just paint your face, make sure you get tv time and PFT time, and have no financial stake in my life. Thanks Syd Davies. Move to Minnesota. You can actually have a vote then. After you renounce your Candian citizenship, and pass the test to become an American citizen. By the way, my girlfriend was born Canadian, and was American by birth,but had to renounce her Canadian citizenship. Confusing I’m sure, but not uncommon for people from the Falls. I vote, and pay taxes here. Syd Davies paints his face(at what 50+years old? sad) does not. He is not representative of a Vikings fan. This will cost me money, not Syd Davies.

1 week ago: Doom and gloom in Minny. The Vikings are moving. Wilf’s plane is in LA. The NFL releases the Vikings “last schedule in MN”.

1 week later: The “air of inevitability” that this is going to get done.

What’s the last thing anyone saw run through government this quickly? Seems a bit choreographed to me. Get the MN residents in a panic and watch how quickly they get on board. I live in MN, am not a big Vikings fan, but would hate to see them move. What bothers me more is that the my fellow residents might actually be this naive.

“Of course, there’s a third branch of government beyond legislative and executive — and it’s only a matter of time before a Minneapolis taxpayer files a lawsuit claiming that the plan violates the City Charter’s requirement that any investment of more than $10 million in a sports facility be approved by a public vote…”

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Oh yeah. The actual taxpayer is supposed to sign off on this deal too via a referendum. Never let it be said that the elites would let something like DEMOCRACY stand in the way of a little back room dealing.

As a lawyer maybe you ought to read the Charter. It seems uniquely unambiguous that a vote is required for an expenditure this size. I am sure there are more than several lawsuits already drawn up that will be filed the moment an announcement is made that the “little folks” (aka taxpayers) got shafted of their rights.

And please… for the love of Gawd, do not construct another DOMED STADIUM!

The Pontiac Silverdome was a total abomination and those retards in Detroit learned absolutely nothing after abandoning their cesspool. The Ford family was too bleeping cheap to install a retractable roof onto Ford Field, so now the NFC North is stuck with another disgusting indoor facility.

The Vikings need to return to an open-air structure similar to the “Ice Palace” from their Bud Grant era. Utilize the Minnesota weather for the ultimate home-field advantage. When a player feels an urge to spit… his saliva should freeze before it hits the ground. That’s how football was meant to be played.

Heard all of this same crap back in March. This just epitomizes the effectiveness of government or lack there of. Don’t think I have ever witnessed a bigger fiasco than this, regarding a team vying for a stadium.

One little tid-bit about the Mpls City-Charter that prohibits spending more than $10m for a sports facility. It also basically says any spending over $10m on an infastructure project must be put to a vote. As a result, that provision has been by-passed over 20 times in the last 22 years by the Mpls City Council. Any legal challenge to by-passing it again will be difficult to say the least, based on that history.

At a time when teacher, police officers and other needed public servants are being laid off in large numbers, at a time when services for the elderly and disabled are being severely cut, to see this absolutely disgusting piece of corporate welfare sickens me.

Last year the vast greed demonstrated by the players and owners during the strike / lockout had me to the point were I did not follow the nfl at all most of the season and was finally sucked back in right before the playoffs. This finishes me for the nfl.

You f’ing billionaires do not need this corporate welfare over the kids who need teachers, the elderly who need healthcare and homes, the people who need enough police to protect them.

F the nfl, F the scumbag billionaire owners who are extorting this corporate welfare out of the cities, and F the players. You are all a bunch of walking greedbags.

@ taintedsaints, 3M, Hormel Foods, IBM, Mayo Clinic, Target, Best Buy, etc. all HUGE companies based in MN, but, you cannot force these companies to give a crap about the state they are based in, don’t forget that Polaris/Victory just moved a bunch of their money to Mexico, even if you are not a football fan, it only makes sense to keep the Vikes in MN, maybe one (or more) of these huge companies will step up, but that is up to them.
My father, who is not even slightly a Vikings fan or a football guy wants the Vikes to stay, and he was a tax-paying, blue collar sheet metal worker for 40 yrs, it just makes sense to support the local sports teams, it brings prestige and pride to our state, not to mention a SuperBowl, which can’t hurt, right?

racksie says:
Apr 25, 2012 8:34 AM
Well, unless your Canadian. Then you just paint your face, make sure you get tv time and PFT time, and have no financial stake in my life. Thanks Syd Davies. Move to Minnesota. You can actually have a vote then. After you renounce your Candian citizenship, and pass the test to become an American citizen. By the way, my girlfriend was born Canadian, and was American by birth,but had to renounce her Canadian citizenship. Confusing I’m sure, but not uncommon for people from the Falls. I vote, and pay taxes here. Syd Davies paints his face(at what 50+years old? sad) does not. He is not representative of a Vikings fan. This will cost me money, not Syd Davies.

You sound pretty downtrodden about this whole deal. How about you and your sorts move to Canada, and we’ll all be happy!?!

Do you guys remember when House Republicans pretended to repeal Health Care Reform knowing it would be blocked in the Senate? Do you remember when Paul Ryan tried to pass a budget knowing it would never get past the Senate or President? They do this crap for show. So when they run political ads, they can say they voted for X billions of dollars in tax cuts or however they want to phrase it.

I suspect that’s what we’re seeing in Minnesota. The politicians want to be against using tax money to support billionaires, but they also want to give the appearance that they did everything in their power to keep the Vikings. Last week was politicians looking like they favored the former, this week they are favoring the latter. It’s all about being able to talk out of both sides of their mouth.

They know that if it passes, it’s going to result in a lawsuit that likely results in a public referendum. Then when the public votes it down, politicians can look at both sides of the issue and say, “Hey, we tried.”

Funny, someone complains about a Canadian Vikings fan isn’t going to pay taxes to fund the stadium. Nevermind that that Canadian Vikings fan travels to every game, spending money at gas stations, restaurants, hotels, etc. Him coming to the games contributes tax dollars and has since the 80s. I think he’s paid his fair share of MN taxes. Him and the other 27% of Vikings season ticket holders who come from OUT OF STATE. Think they would come watch a show at the Guthrie if the Vikings left for LA?

“Of course, there’s a third branch of government beyond legislative and executive — and it’s only a matter of time before a Minneapolis taxpayer files a lawsuit claiming that the plan violates the City Charter’s requirement that any investment of more than $10 million in a sports facility be approved by a public vote…”

——————–

Oh yeah. The actual taxpayer is supposed to sign off on this deal too via a referendum. Never let it be said that the elites would let something like DEMOCRACY stand in the way of a little back room dealing.

As a lawyer maybe you ought to read the Charter. It seems uniquely unambiguous that a vote is required for an expenditure this size. I am sure there are more than several lawsuits already drawn up that will be filed the moment an announcement is made that the “little folks” (aka taxpayers) got shafted of their rights.

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Referendums are NOT democracy. Referedums are cop-outs for politicians who do not want to make tough decisions. The only things the public should vote on are the congressmen and senators. THOSE are the people who should do the voting in a democracy.

BTW – other than the Minneapolis portion of the costs – NONE of the state’s money is coming from the taxpayer. Gaming money is VOLUNTARY. Even the Minneapolis money is not a NEW tax – it is an extension of an existing tax.

Also – the Minneapolis charter is ridiculous – considering the money that Minneapolis makes every year by being home to the Vikings, Twins and Timberwolves. Maybe there should be a limit on the income Minneapolis gets from the pro sports teams. I wonder how the anti-stadium morons would feel about that.

Well, unless your Canadian. Then you just paint your face, make sure you get tv time and PFT time, and have no financial stake in my life. Thanks Syd Davies. Move to Minnesota. You can actually have a vote then. After you renounce your Candian citizenship, and pass the test to become an American citizen. By the way, my girlfriend was born Canadian, and was American by birth,but had to renounce her Canadian citizenship. Confusing I’m sure, but not uncommon for people from the Falls. I vote, and pay taxes here. Syd Davies paints his face(at what 50+years old? sad) does not. He is not representative of a Vikings fan. This will cost me money, not Syd Davies.
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i know ppl who do this 5-8 times a year and actually shell out bout 2 grand per game weekend with travel expenses, food, hotel, tix, etc. & @ 2 grand per weekend they probably shell out more than the likes of you who refuse to want to pay an extra quarter on a $100 bill. with over 25% of season tix holders are non MN residents yours is the very narrow minded thinking that thinks they dont contribute when they probably contribute more than u.

One little tid-bit about the Mpls City-Charter that prohibits spending more than $10m for a sports facility. It also basically says any spending over $10m on an infastructure project must be put to a vote. As a result, that provision has been by-passed over 20 times in the last 22 years by the Mpls City Council. Any legal challenge to by-passing it again will be difficult to say the least, based on that history.

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Not true, those projects were just never challenged. Go tell the judge about all the other speeders on the freeway that sped before you got caught. Just because someone the governement there has pissed on the citizens 20 times before doesn’t mean that they will continue.

The brand new doormat for Green Bay is almost here!
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nice to hear from the experts….u would know what a doormat is since your 15-1 squad was last year for a .500 football club in your own house

I went over to Hudson Sunday, walked into a liquor store, there were 3 people who has GB Packer sandals and all 3 had white socks on underneath them. Clearly they don’t get out much. When you see GB fans trolling Vikes news and posting babble, cut ’em some slack. Not a whole lot going on over in the land of handouts, laziness, and Badgercare.

“Of course, there’s a third branch of government beyond legislative and executive — and it’s only a matter of time before a Minneapolis taxpayer files a lawsuit claiming that the plan violates the City Charter’s requirement that any investment of more than $10 million in a sports facility be approved by a public vote…”
——————–
Oh yeah. The actual taxpayer is supposed to sign off on this deal too via a referendum. Never let it be said that the elites would let something like DEMOCRACY stand in the way of a little back room dealing.

As a lawyer maybe you ought to read the Charter. It seems uniquely unambiguous that a vote is required for an expenditure this size. I am sure there are more than several lawsuits already drawn up that will be filed the moment an announcement is made that the “little folks” (aka taxpayers) got shafted of their rights.
************
Referendums are NOT democracy. Referedums are cop-outs for politicians who do not want to make tough decisions. The only things the public should vote on are the congressmen and senators. THOSE are the people who should do the voting in a democracy.
BTW – other than the Minneapolis portion of the costs – NONE of the state’s money is coming from the taxpayer. Gaming money is VOLUNTARY. Even the Minneapolis money is not a NEW tax – it is an extension of an existing tax. Also – the Minneapolis charter is ridiculous – considering the money that Minneapolis makes every year by being home to the Vikings, Twins and Timberwolves. Maybe there should be a limit on the income Minneapolis gets from the pro sports teams. I wonder how the anti-stadium morons would feel about that.
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Actually, we live in a Republic. We vote for officials that act on our behalf. Right or wrong, that’s how it is – get used to it.

voicefreason says:
Apr 25, 2012 12:22 PM
I went over to Hudson Sunday, walked into a liquor store, there were 3 people who has GB Packer sandals and all 3 had white socks on underneath them. Clearly they don’t get out much. When you see GB fans trolling Vikes news and posting babble, cut ‘em some slack. Not a whole lot going on over in the land of handouts, laziness, and Badgercare.

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Goggle “MN Helga hats” and see if you still have the arrogance to make disparaging remarks about the appearance of Packer fans in their gear. At least those Packer fans have 4, count them 4 Lombardi’s to celebrate…………LOSER!

By the way, we don’t want or need you sex offending Helga hat wearing gender benders coming over the bridge to buy your booze.

racksie says:
Apr 25, 2012 8:34 AM
Well, unless your Canadian. Then you just paint your face, make sure you get tv time and PFT time, and have no financial stake in my life. Thanks Syd Davies. Move to Minnesota. You can actually have a vote then. After you renounce your Candian citizenship, and pass the test to become an American citizen. By the way, my girlfriend was born Canadian, and was American by birth,but had to renounce her Canadian citizenship. Confusing I’m sure, but not uncommon for people from the Falls. I vote, and pay taxes here. Syd Davies paints his face(at what 50+years old? sad) does not. He is not representative of a Vikings fan. This will cost me money, not Syd Davies.

You sound pretty downtrodden about this whole deal. How about you and your sorts move to Canada, and we’ll all be happy!?!

For some reason, Canada doesn’t want us coming into their country and screwing it up. But Syd Davies can be a hero in Minnesota because he paints his face at 50+ years old. Maybe just buy a jersey and grow up, Syd. OR if you love our team so much, renounce your citizenship in Canada, become an American, move to Minnesota and VOTE.

gb4mn0 says:
Apr 25, 2012 3:55 PM
voicefreason says:
Apr 25, 2012 12:22 PM
I went over to Hudson Sunday, walked into a liquor store, there were 3 people who has GB Packer sandals and all 3 had white socks on underneath them. Clearly they don’t get out much. When you see GB fans trolling Vikes news and posting babble, cut ‘em some slack. Not a whole lot going on over in the land of handouts, laziness, and Badgercare.

——————————————-

Goggle “MN Helga hats” and see if you still have the arrogance to make disparaging remarks about the appearance of Packer fans in their gear. At least those Packer fans have 4, count them 4 Lombardi’s to celebrate…………LOSER!

By the way, we don’t want or need you sex offending Helga hat wearing gender benders coming over the bridge to buy your booze.

……..
We don’t need you idiot Sconi Cheeseheads coming over the bridge to work jobs in Minnesota……stay over there and talk about how great the team YOU OWN is……obviously you can do that for a living since you OWN the team right????

Hey, gb4mn0,when are you sconi lowlifes gonna pay back Minnesota the 86 million you owe us for unpaid income taxes? You could fund 20% of of the stadium cost for our state by simply paying off that debt!

Time to grow up & check back into reality stadium naysayers! If your politicians don’t screw this up, the Vikes stay in MN…where they belong! There are all sorts items you pay for with your tax dollars that should infuriate you, if you just took the time to peel back the ‘onion’. Take for example Public Servants; getting paid well into 6 digits, retiring @ 55 with 100% salary until they croak. You know, the people who keep all the luxury RV and boat manufacturers in business! Total non-sense! (Relax people, just trying to make a point here) There are things in life you’ll pay for that you cannot change. Many of which would piss you off much more than a new stadium. NOW, if for some reason your politicians do ‘fumble’, I’ll enjoy watching the LA Vikings live!

Goggle “MN Helga hats” and see if you still have the arrogance to make disparaging remarks about the appearance of Packer fans in their gear.
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The sight of those long blonde braids flowing out from under the horned helmets sent Europeans screaming in terror for centuries. I don’t recall a time anyone was afraid of the people from the meat packing plant….although seeing someone running around wearing cheese for a hat might make me a little nervous. Sort of like seeing a grown man walking around in public wearing Spongebob pajamas would.